Ross Valley sewer officials launch search for new chief

Ross Valley Sanitary District officials are taking the first steps toward replacing Brett Richards, the former general manager who resigned last month after questions were raised about a housing loan he received from the agency.

A committee of two board members will discuss the hiring process Tuesday and the matter will go before the full board Aug. 22. The board is considering several recruitment firms that could help lead the search for a new manager, chairman Frank Egger said.

"The board has learned from the last managerial experience here that we need to find a manager who works well with other agencies," Egger said.

Richards resigned as general manager last month after questions were raised about a $350,000 housing loan he received from the agency in 2010. During his tenure the district was also criticized for engaging in disputes with other public agencies and for engaging in costly litigation.

Egger, who joined the board in 2010, two years after Richards was hired, said he hoped the new general manager's contract would be different. In particular, he said he hopes to avoid provisions such as a 180-day waiting period to fire the manager after an election.

"I've never seen a contract like that," Egger said.

Board member Peter Sullivan, who joined the board shortly before Richards was hired, defended the former manager's record. He credited Richards with accomplishments such as creating a sewer lateral replacement program, developing a system of cameras to discover sewer line damage, creating a capital improvement plan and overseeing the move of the district's headquarters.

"Brett (Richards) came up with lots of good ideas, was unprepared for the kind of almost vicious politics that take place in Marin and he kind of stepped right into it and got clobbered," Sullivan said.

He said the contents of the next manager's contract would depend on negotiations.

"Every board would like to make it easier to fire someone and everyone being hired would like to make it harder to fire someone," he said.

The district's General Manager Search Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the district office, 2960 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael.